If you don't fancy roast guinea pig, there's plenty of other Peruvian cuisine to try, including a lovely but lethal brandy.
Peruvian cuisine - Savoury dishes
Pachamanca - A pièce de resistance in Peruvian cuisine, Pachamanca is a dish whose preparation is as interesting as the eating of it. Meat, vegetables and beans are cooked on hot stones, which are then covered with earth and grass.
Papas a la Huancaína - Potatoes, lettuce and olives are coated in a creamy but piquant cheese sauce.
Butifarras - A glorified ham sandwich that includes onion, spicy sauce and chillies.
Cuy (guinea pig) - The cute little creatures you might have had as pets feed many a Peruvian. If you can get past the pet-factor, the meat tastes similar to rabbit.
Chifa - Chinese food - Probably not what you expect to find in Peru but their version of Chinese food is served often and well.
Fish - Peru's links with the Pacific Ocean, Lake Titacaca and the Amazon mean fish is readily available.
Look out for: ceviche - seafood marinated in lime or lemon and hot chillies and served with sweet potatoes; escabeche - fish marinated in vinegar or citrus juices; and chupe de camarones - a sort of fish soup, with potatoes, milk and chilli powder.
Peruvian cuisine - Snacks
Salchipapas - A Latin American version of sausage and chips, where the sausage is sliced. They usually come in a cone, with a selection of sauces for you to squirt on.
Empanadas - Empanadas could be mistaken for Cornish pasties, but are filled with various types of meat or cheese and sometimes eggs and olives.
Papa rellena - Literally, 'stuffed dad', papa rellena are actually mashed potatoes, fried and filled with vegetables or meat.
Tamales - A sort of wrap made out of corn dough, and rolled in a banana leaf. Inside is chicken, and possibly eggs, olives, chilli peppers and peanuts.
Peruvian cuisine - Sweet things
As well as exotically flavoured ice creams, you'll find alfajores - a more exciting version of a custard-cream, turrón - soft nougat, and mazamorra morada - a deep purple jelly made with boiled corn.
Peruvian cuisine - Drinks
Chicha is a popular beer made from corn, but Pisco is the drink to have, as testified by the creation of a festival to celebrate its derivative cocktail, Pisco Sour. Pisco is grape brandy, and depending on the form it comes in, can be dangerously drinkable.
Fancy trying Peruvian cuisine for yourself? Why not work Peru into your gap year itinerary; you'll be sampling the delights of Peru's cuisine in no time!
Learn hablar español in record time, with experienced teachers, small classes and lots of opportunities to practise. Activities such as tours of Cusco, cooking lessons, dance classes and parties make it even more fun.
Make some of Cusco’s poorest children smile again. Help in the classrooms, with occupational activities, with teaching the children to prepare meals, and with fundraising. Most of all, show them love and affection.
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A massively rewarding project that involves helping wash, feed and look after mentally and physically handicapped children, and, if you wish, getting involved in their lessons. Great whether you have care experience or just want to make them smile.
A great way to enjoy the Machu Picchu experience while staying away from the crowds, trekking along a unique alternative route towards this incredible destination.
Take a unique and memorable trip around Peru – trek to Machu Picchu, learn the lingo and dance the dance, haggle at the markets, visit an alpaca farm, work with local children, sail around Lake Titicaca and more.
Learn how to identify and photograph dolphins, penguins and other sea creatures. You’ll be working towards making dolphin watching a tourist attraction, and thus persuading fishermen not to kill them for food.
Get totally immersed in Peruvian culture as you’re taken to Lima, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu and Huascaran National Park in the Andes. You’ll also study Spanish, stay with a Quechua India family and more besides.
Spend 5 months or more on an amazing gap year in Latin America. This programme provides all the structure you need, with lots of activities including Spanish lessons, volunteering with wildlife or disadvantaged street children.
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